OPINION: What Israel could do with F-35 Joint Strike Fighter? by Mahmoud Morsi

Two days ago United States announced that by next year Israel will be
getting a shipment of the United States’ new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet so
that it’s military can retain its “qualitative edge” in the Middle East. Israel
will be the only country in the Middle East to have this fifth-generation
aircraft, regardless the debate over Jewish settlements in Palestinian
territories and Iran’s nuclear program; the two nations continue to maintain
strong military ties.

With no doubts F-35 is the best, but the question is about do Israel
really need it now, and for what, with its F-15 I and F-16 the most advanced
fighter in the world equipped with Israeli Tech and missiles.

Israeli already gave F-35 the Hebrew
name Adir which, according to the Times of Israel, denotes awesomeness in Modern
Hebrew, The
deal involves Israel purchasing 14 F-35 jets for $110 million each. That is in
addition to a previous agreement in 2010 that saw Israel agree to buy 19 jets.
The first two planes are set to arrive in Israel in 2016, with the others
making their way into the country by 2021.With all the money had spent in the program still many problems
like the
jet’s software maintenance system gives false-positive readings 80 % of the
time. And the stealth capabilities of the jet, arguing that it’s not as
effective against Chinese and Russian air defence systems as other aircraft are.But according to Ehud
Barak words that The F-35 is the fighter plane of the future that will allow
Israel to maintain its aerial superiority and its technological advantage in
the region... The F-35 will give the IAF better capabilities, both near and
far, to help strengthen Israel's national security.

The first F-35I combat squadron is expected to achieve initial operational
capability in 2018. The advanced electronic warfare, data links and specific software modes
developed for the Israeli air force will remain unique to Israel and
not delivered to any other user. These capabilities will also be fully
integrated with the aircraft capabilities, adhering to the stealth
characteristics of the aircraft, particularly, at specific apertures cleared
for the Israeli systems integration in the lower fuselage and leading edge.

F-35 has no
limitations; it can take on and win against any threat currently available in-theater.
Its ability to independently collect, assess and process a battle space
situational picture, and strike those targets by itself, from standoff range,
is providing a qualitative edge over anything the enemy can confront with, in
the foreseeable future

There are some saying that Israel does not need the F-35 to maintain its
technological superiority over the Arab countries and would be better off
developing its own aircraft that did not have the design compromises of the
F-35 but other may say that F-35 will have a deterrent effect with its ability
to make preemptive attacks on hostile countries before war is declared, such
as on Iran's nuclear facilities.

F 35 needs time to prove its capability, and
until entering full operation in Middle East space battle, we have a long
argument about how it will do that With new Russian air defence systems spread in
Middle East in Iran and Egypt, and what other countries will have still the
question with no answers.